Rotary fan attachment for sewing-machines.



No. 757,723. PATENTED APR. 19,1904.

H. W. G. VON CASTENS. V ROTARYFAN ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 16, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT. FFIGE.

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ROTARY FAN ATTACHMENT FOR SEWlNG-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,723, dated. April 19, 1904.

Application filed July 16, 1903- is actuated by or from the machine needle-bar and induces air-currents, keeping the operator cool while using the machine. Very little power is required to rotate this improved fan, and it is practicallynoiseless inoperation, and it is applicable to sewing-machines operated by hand or foot power or by belting or otherwise from a power-transmitting shaft.

The invention will first be described and then will be particularly defined in claims hereinafter set forth.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which" 7 Figure 1 is a front elevation of an ,ordinary sewing-machine with my improved fan at tachment applied thereto and with the foot of the fan-actuating rack-bar partly in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the fan attachment with the sewing-machine arm in vertical section on the line at a: in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail front vertical sectional view illustrating the fan-driving clutch, which is in section on the line y y in Fig. i. Fig. 4: is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the fandriving mechanism in the plane of the fanshaft and with the fan-blades partly broken away, and Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the fan attachment drawnto the same scale as Figs. 1 and 2.

The numeral 1 indicates the arm of an ordinary sewing-machine, in the head 2 of which the needlebar 3 has vertical reciprocation.

The rotary fan 1 comprises a series of blades suitably fixed by and between two nuts 5 6 to a horizontal shaft 7, journaled in this fan-supporting frame 8 and in a plate 9, h ld by two screws 10 10 to studs 11 11, proje ting from said frame. Next its bearing in the frame 8 Serial No. 165,742. (No model.)

the fan-shaft has an enlarged journal 12, on which is fitted to turn freely a clutch member 18, having one or more recesses 14, receiving a corresponding clutch roller or rollers 15, three recesses 14 and rollers 15 being shown in the drawings. Upon a preferably screwthreaded' portion 16 of the fan-shaft 7 is fitted another clutch member 17, which has a rear cavity receiving the clutch member 13 and rollers 15. A jam-nut 18 on the screw-thread 16 securely locks the clutch member 17 to the fan-shaft 7 and against a shoulder of its enlarged portion 12, thereby causing the fanshaft and fan to rotate in unison.

At the rear portion'of the clutch member 13 is formed or fixed a toothed Wheel or pinion 19, which is engaged by a rack 20, formed on a bar 21, which is guided for vertical reciprocation in upper and lower bearing-lugs 2'2- 23 on the fan-frame 8. This rack-bar 20 21 has a foot-piece 2 1, which is preferably recessed slightly at its lower face, as shown in Fig.1 of the drawings, to receive the head of the sewing-machine needle-bar 3. Said bar 3 as it rises lifts the rack-bar. which'is lowered and held snugly to the rapidly-reciprocatingmeedlebar head, preferably by a suitable spring. I prefer to use a spiral spring 25, placed on the rack-bar between its shoulder or pin 26 and the upper bar-bearing 22. By using the detachable bearing- :plate 9, and fitting the clutch member 17 and its retaining-nut 18 on the threaded portion 16 of the fan-shaft 7 access may quickly and easily be had to the entire clutch and rackbar meclianism for inspection, oiling, or repairs.

When the fan-supporting frame 8 is properly adjusted to the sewingmachine arm, preferably by improved clamping devices presently described, the rack-bar foot 24 rests on the needle-bar?) and the upstroke of the latter will raise the rack-bar 20 21, and thereby turn the clutch member 13 in direction of the arrow a in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This causes the clutch-rollers 15 to bind on the clutch member 17, and thereby rotate the fan a. As the needle-bar 3 descends the clutch member 13 will be turned in the opposite direction, while the clutch-rollers 15 release the clutch member 17 thus permitting the fan to continue its rotation in direction of the arrow (4 until the next upstroke of the needle-bar 3 again engages the clutch members to give another forward rotary impulse to the fan, which thus is kept in continuous rapid and practically uniform rotation in one direction by successive upstrokes of the sewing-machine needle-bar and will force cooling air-currents to and around the head and shoulders of the operator of the sewing-machine. I prefer to place a guiding-stud 27 in the frame 8 next the bar 21 opposite the point of engagement of the rack with the clutch-pinion 19 to maintain proper engagement of the rack and pinion, while permitting use of a light rackbar. The spring 25 by holding the rack-bar 2O 21 constantly to the sewing-machine needlebar 3 prevents rattling of parts and assures practically noiseless operation of the fan.

To provide for firm and true support of the fan-frame and fan from the sewing-machine arm 1, so as to assure proper relative engagement of the needle-bar 3 with the rack-bar 20 21, while also providing for adjusting the rotary-fan mechanism to the usually tapering arms of various makes of sewing-machines, I have devised the special clamping and adj usting means next described.

In a threaded lug 28 at the foot of the fanframe 8 is fitted aclamping-screw 29, on which is fitted a jam-nut 30, adapted to lock the fanframe 8 and the screw 29 rigidly together when or after the frame-lug 28 is adjusted at proper height on the screw 29 to hold the rack-bar foot 24: in proper relation vertically to the head of the needle-bar 3 of any particular sewing-machine. The screw 29 also is threaded into the head of a clamp-dog 31, the foot of which engages underneath the sewing-machine arm 1. The main screw 29 thus serves to secure both the dog 31 and the fan-carrying frame 8 to the sewing-machine arm 1. This clamp-dog 31 has a laterally-projecting lug 32, into which is threaded a vertically-ranging auxiliary adjusting-screw 33, which may be turned up or down to bear on the top of the sewing-machine arm 1 and compensate for lateral incline of said tapering arm, so as to maintain the entire fan attachment imposition assuring true vertical disposition of the fanoperating rack-bar 2021 and maintain its proper engagement with the needle-bar 3 to promote smooth and easy working of all parts of the fan-driving mechanism.

I I am not limited to the precise construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, as my invention includes any construction or arrangement of parts in a rotaryfan attachment to sewingmachines which comprises a revoluble fan, a reciprocating part movable by a sewing-machine needle-bar, and mechanism of any suitable character (preferably clutch mechanism) interposed between said reciprocating part and the fan-shaft and continuously rotating the fan by intermittent impulses given said reciprocating part by or from the needle-bar and preferably supplemented by any suitable means, such as a spring, holding said reciprocating part in constant engagement with the reciprocating needle-bar.

I claim as my invention 1. A rotary fan attachment to sewing-machines, comprising a revoluble fan, a reciprocating part movable by a sewing-machine needle-bar, and mechanism interposed between said reciprocating part and. the fan-shaft and continuously rotating the fan by intermittent impulses given said reciprocating part by or from the needle-bar.

2. A rotary fan attachment to sewing-machines, comprising a revoluble fan, a reciprocating part movable by a sewing-machine needle bar, and clutch mechanism interposed between said reciprocating part and the fan-shaft and continuously rotating the fan by intermittent impulses given said reciprocating part by or from the needle-bar.

3. A rotary fan attachment to sewing-machines, comprising a revoluble fan, a reciprocating part movable by a sewing-machine needle-bar, mechanism interposed between said reciprocating part and the fan-shaft and continuously rotating the fan by intermittent impulses given said reciprocating part by or from the needle-bar, and means holding said reciprocating part in constant engagement with the reciprocating needle-bar.

4:. A. rotary fan attachment to sewing-machines, comprising a revoluble fan, a reciprocating part movable by a sewing-machine needle-bar, clutch mechanism interposed between said reciprocating part and the fan-shaft and continuously rotating the fan by intermittent impulses given said reciprocating part by or from the needle-bar, and means holding said reciprocating part in constant engagement with the reciprocating needle-bar.

5. A rotary fan attachment to sewing-machines, comprising a revoluble fan, a verticallyreciprocating rack-bar movable by or from a sewing-machine needle-bar, and a clutch-hav ing one member carrying a pinion engaged by the rack-bar and having another member coupled to the fan-shaft and continuously rotating the fan by intermittent impulses given the rack-bar by successive upstrokes of the needle-bar.

6.- A rotary fan attachment to sewing-ma chines, comprising a revol uble fan, a verticallyreciprocatlng rack-bar movable by or from a sewing-machine needle-bar, a clutch having one member carrying a pinion engaged by the 7. A rotary fan attachment to sewing-machines, comprising a revoluble fan, a verticallyreciprocating rack-bar movable by or from a sewing-machine needle-bar, a clutch having one member carrying a pinion engaged by the rack-bar and having another member coupled to the fan-shaft and continuously rotating-the fan by intermittent impulses given the rackbar by successive upstrokes of the needle-bar, and a spring holdingthe reciprocating rackbar in constant engagement with the reciprocating needle-bar.

8. A rotary fan attachment to sewing-machines, comprising a support adapted for attachment to a sewing-machine arm, a revoluble fan 'journaled in said support, a rack-bar adapted for vertical reciprocation in said support by or from the sewing-machine needlebar, and clutch mechanism at the fan-shaft continuously rotating the fan by intermittent impulses given the rack-bar by successive upstrokes of the needle-bar. Y

9. A rotary fan attachment to sewing-machines, comprising a support adapted for attachment to a sewing-machine arm, a revoluble fan journaled in said support, a rack-bar adapted for vertical reciprocation in said support by or from the sewing machine needlebar, clutch mechanism at the fan-shaft continuously rotating the fan by intermittent impulses given the rack-bar by successive upstrokes of the needle-bar, and a spring hold+ ing the reciprocating rack-barin constant engagement with the reciprocating needle-bar.-

10. In a rotary fan attachment to sewingmachines, the combination, with a supportingframe 8 havingstuds 11, 11, and a plate 9, detachably held to said studs, of a shaft7 journaled in the parts 8, 9 and having a bearing 12 and screw-thread 16; a clutch comprising a member 13 journaled on shaft-bearing l2 and having recesses 14, a member 17 locked to the shaft-thread 16, and rollers 15 in said recesses 14, between the two clutch members 13, 17; a pinion 19 held to clutch member 13-, and a rack-bar 20 21 guided on the frame 8 and engaging the clutch-pinion 19 and adapted for operation by a sewing-machine needle-bar,

substantially as described.

11. In a rotary fan attachment to sewingmachines, the combination, with a supportingframe 8 having studs 11, 11, and a plate 9detachably held to said studs, of a shaft 7 journaled in the parts 8, 9 and having a bearing '12 and screwthread 16; a clutch comprising a member 13 journaled on shaft-bearing 12 and having recesses 14, a member 17- locked to the shaft-thread 16, and rollers 15 in said recesses 14 between the two clutch members 13, 17; a pinion 19 held to clutch member 13, a rackbar 20 21 guided on the frame 8 and engaging the clutch-pinion 19 and adapted for operation by a sewing-machine needle-bar, and a spring 25 on the rack-bar holding it to said needlebar, substantially as described.

12. In afan attachment to sewing-machines, the combination, with the fan supporting frame and a reciprocating part fitted to said frame and adapted to actuate the fan from the needle-bar of a sewing-machine, of a screw fitted vertically in the fan-frame, a lock-nut on said screw adapted to secure said frame and the fan at the required vertical adjustment, and aclamp-dog also fitted on the screwand adapted with it to look upon the arm of a sewing-machine, substantially as described.

13. In a fan attachment to sewing-machines, the combination, with the fan supporting frame and a reciprocating part fitted to said frame and adapted to actuate the fan from the needle-bar of a sewing-machine, of a screw fitted vertically in the fan-frame, a lock-nut on said screw adapted to secure said frame and the fan at the required vertical adjustment, a clamp-dog also fitted on the screw and adapted with it to lock upon the arm of a sewingmachine, and an auxiliary screw in the cl ampdog adapted to engage the sewing-machine arm and compensate for lateral incline of said arm and assure true vertical disposition of the reciprocating fan-actuating part, substantially as described.

14:. In a fan attachment to sewing-machines, the combination, with a frame 8, a fan journaled thereon, a reciprocating part fitted in said frame, and means actuating said reciprocating part and the fan from the needle-bar of a sewing-machine, of a vertically-disposed screw 29 fitted in the fan-frame 8 and provided' with a lock-nut 30, a clamp-dog 31 embracing the sewing-machine arm and with the screw 29 securing both the dog and fan-frame to said arm, and an auxiliary adjusting-screw 33 fitted in the dog and acting on the sewingmachine arm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aifixed my .name hereto, at the city of New York and in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses, this 15th day of July, 1903.

Witnesses:

JOHN SABER, C. A. STETSON. 

